يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا
عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى
سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ
ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ
مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
O Children of Adam!
We have bestowed Libas
(raiment) upon you to
cover yourselves with,
and as Rish (adornment);
and the Libas (raiment)
of Taqwa, that is better.
Such are among the
Ayat of Allah, that they
may remember.
Bestowing Raiment and Adornment on Mankind
Allah reminds His servants that He has given them Libas and Rish. Libas refers to the clothes that are used to cover the private parts, while Rish refers to the outer adornments used for purposes of beautification. Therefore, the first type is essential while the second type is complimentary. Ibn Jarir said that Rish includes furniture and outer clothes. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam commented on the Ayat,
وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى
and the Libas (raiment) of Taqwa…
When one fears Allah, Allah covers his errors. Hence the `Libas of Taqwa’ (that the Ayat mentions).”